The CROSSROADS COMMUNITY FUND has three current funding opportunities: The People's Fund, the DownRoot Fund, and the Power Up Fund.
The People's Fund
The People's Fund is a mutual-aid style fund directed to support residents in Buffalo's most historically excluded, intentionally overlooked, and economically distressed zip codes for crisis response and emergency assistance.
The People's Fund Guaranteed Income Program is offering $500 per month for 12 months to 30 Buffalo residents living in Zip Codes 14208, 14211, or 14212. The money will be loaded on a prepaid debit card and can be used for your needs, like food, rent, or other bills.
Guaranteed Income Program
DownRoot Fund
The DownRoot Fund exists to promote and preserve community ownership and community control. We are moving on from failed economic practices that exploit, extract, and uproot our people, our resources, and our culture. Instead, we are laying down roots with purpose: DownRoot funds projects that are building an economy that puts people in control of their lives, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
DownRoot has 3 grant opportunities: Build, Preserve, and Create.
Community Impact in Action
To date, these funds have supported over 400 residents across Buffalo through direct aid,
grants, and partnerships with local nonprofits.
Impact Highlights
- Over $250,000 distributed directly to residents for essential needs and community-led
projects. - 25+ local businesses and co-ops supported through DownRoot Build grants.
- Hundreds of residents engaged in civic workshops, financial literacy programs, and
leadership training.
โWhen communities have the power to direct their own resources, they donโt just surviveโthey
thrive.โ
โ Executive Director, The Peopleโs Fund
Power Up Fund
A new fund to support efforts that promote civic literacy and leadership development.
Details coming soon.